Planting for a new future

Published 6:07 am, Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Photo: NICK KING | Nking@mdn.net

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Volunteers from Dow Chemical, from left, Lizhu Lin, Vickie Langer and Heather Tidwell dig a hole for the tree they were planting Monday at Emerson Park. About 50 trees were planted at the park. About 100-150 volunteers planted 290 trees in city parks to help replace ash trees that will be removed because of the emerald ash borer infestation. less

Volunteers from Dow Chemical, from left, Lizhu Lin, Vickie Langer and Heather Tidwell dig a hole for the tree they were planting Monday at Emerson Park. About 50 trees were planted at the park. About 100-150 ... more

Photo: NICK KING | Nking@mdn.net

Planting for a new future

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More than 100 people planted nearly 300 trees in parks across Midland on Monday in an effort to replace ash trees destroyed by emerald ash borers.

The project is a major boost for the City of Midland's parks, Midland Public Services Director Karen Murphy said on a sunny afternoon in Plymouth Park, which is among the city parks with a high percentage of ash trees.

"Those that can be treated have been, and others have been marked for removal," Murphy said.

A tree removal program will take place during the winter, when it's safer to remove the brittle trees infested with emerald ash borers. The insects destroy the tree's nutrient delivery system, killing the tree.

The city's massive effort to fight the invasive species caught the attention of The Dow Chemical Co., which donated $25,000 for replacement trees and supplies. It also committed employee volunteer time to the project from Dow Michigan Operations and the Corporate Center.

"For somebody to step in and make this donation to the parks is amazing because right now, we're focused on our street trees," Murphy said.

The city typically budgets $5,000 per year for tree replacement, so Dow's donation was important as funds are targeted to treatment and removal of trees, Murphy said.

"It's an enormous boost to the parks that may not have happened for years without the donation," she said.

The trees were planted in Plymouth and eight other parks, including Emerson, Stratford, Central, Chippewassee, Grove, Currie-Bennett, Fournie and Hillgrove.

Denny Huggard, a Dow employee, joined friend Rob Rouse at the planting in Plymouth.

"It's fun and it's worthwhile, especially with the ash borer destroying trees in the area," Huggard said as he pushed soil around a tree the two had just placed in the ground.

Rouse said the project was a good way to give back to the community.

"It's something that needs to be done," he said.

Jarod Davis, Dow's sustainability external engagement leader, said the project shows the company's commitment to the planet and the employees' commitment to their community.

"What we're doing today is we're really experiencing and living the commitment Dow's made to protecting the planet as part of our sustainability goals," Davis said. "Planting these trees today is a gift these employees are able to offer the community for many, many years to come."